Thomas g



T. G. BENNETT.

FORE STOCK FOR FIREARMS.

(No Model.

Patented Apr. -'7, 1896.

NAM. PHQTOMTNQWASHIN 6T0. v.0.

THOMAS G. BENNETT, OF NEV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE INCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FORE-STOCK FOR FIREARMS.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,947, dated April '7, 1896.

Application filed January 18, 1896. Serial No. 575,937. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. BENNETT, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Fore-Arm Stocks for Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a view in side elevation of a gun provided with a fore-arm stock constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a detached view in inside elevation of one of the members of the fore-arm stock; Fig. 4, an enlarged View in transverse section on the line a b of Fig. 1 through the two members of the fore-arm stock and barrel of the gun; Fig. 5, a similar view on the line 0 cl of the same figure, showing one mode of securing the rear band to the gun-barrel; Fig. 6, a similar view on the line 6 f of the same figure, showing one mode of securing the forward band in place.

My invention relates to an improvement in sectional fore-arm stocks for guns.

Heretofore sectional fore-arm stocks have generally consisted of an upper and a lower member joined in a horizontal planewhich is to say, a plane passing through the arm at a right angle to its plane, which for convenience maybe called a vertical plane. The upper member of such a stock is comparatively short and virtually forms a cap fitting over the rear portion of the gun-barrel, while the lower member constitutes the main or body portion of the stock and extends from the frame of the arm forward beyond the upper member or cap and to a point near the muzzle of the gun-barrel. Such fore-arm stocks were fairly satisfactory in use, for the reason that they were applied to barrels of large caliber, and consequently well adapted to resist deflection from a right line consequent upon the warping,from whatever cause, of the long heavy lower member or body portion of the stock. lVith the introduction, however, of smokeless powder, and the consequent reduction in the caliber and weight of gunbarrels, sectional fore-arm stocks joined horizontally are open to the grave objection that the lower member is liable, when warped, to deflect the barrel.

The object of my present invention is to produce a simple, compact, convenient, and effective fore-arm stock constructed with particular reference to use upon small-caliber smokeless-powder guns having small and light barrels.

Further objects of my invention are to produce a sectional fore-arm stock, the tendency of which when warped to deflect the barrel will be reduced to the minimum, and also to give a wider range in the selection of the wood from which the stock is formed, as to quality and grain, by reducing the size and changing the form of the members of the stock.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a fore-armstock having two corresponding or substantially corresponding members joined in the vertical longitudinal plane of the arm.

My invention further consists in certaindetails of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

As herein shown, my improved fore-arm stock is composed of two corresponding members A and A, at their rear ends joining the forward end of the frame B of the arm and at their forward ends extending nearly to the muzzle of the gun-barrel C, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of these members is worked out from a single piece of wood, and when applied to the arm the joint between them lies in the vertical longitudinal plane thereof. The upperportion of the inner face of each member has a longitudinal groove A formed in it and extending throughout its length to adapt the member to fit around half of the gun-barrel. The upper edge of each member is constructed, as shown, with a long notch A for the clearance of the rear sight D, which is applied to the rear end of the gunbarrel. The rear ends of the respective members are set into or connected with the forward end of the frame B, or held in place in some other effective way. As herein shown, the two members are clamped together and upon the gunbarrel by means of a rear band E and a forward band E, of which the former is somewhat larger than the latter.

The band E is secured in place by means of a transverse screw E mounted in the bands,

passing through the stock and taking into a I transverse notch 6, formed in the lower face of the gun-barrel, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the band is prevented from rotary or longitudinal movement thereupon.

If desired, the set-screw E might be replaced by a spring or other means of holding the band in place.

The band E is secured in place by a screw E passing transversely through it and through the two members of the fore-arm stock, but at a point below the plane of the lower face of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 6 but the screw E may also be replaced by a spring or other means of holding the band in place with respect to the barrel and the members of the stock.

It is apparent that the two members may vary in form, accordingto the dictation of circumstances, and also that they may be varied in details of construction to correspond to variations in the construction of the various arms to which they may be applied. I do not therefore hold myself to the exact construction and form shown.

By constructing the members so that the joint between them lies in the vertical longitudinal plane of the arm the danger of deflection of the barrel by the warping of the fore-arm stock is reduced to the minimum, inasmuch as the warping of the two members, if they should warp, can hardly be in the same direction, so that the warping of one member will often counteract the warping of the other, and, furthermore, the two members warping independently cannot bring the sam e deflecting force upon the barrel as though they were in one piece. In this respect my fore-arm stock is a marked improvement over sectional fore-arm stocks of prior construction, the two members of which are joined in a horizontal plane, as before described.

By constructing the fore-arm stock as described I am also enabled to select choice pieces of wood as to quality and grain, as the blank pieces from which the members are formed are smaller than the pieces ordinarily required for the construction of fore-arm stocks. Furthermore, the form of the members enables them to be made comparatively light and compact without undue loss of strength. The members are conveniently applied and assembled, form a compact and effective fore-arm stock, and one of elegant and workmanlike appearance. I have spoken of forming the two members of wood, which will be the material generally employed, but I conceive that they might be formed of other materialsuch, for instance, as aluminium.

In view of the changes suggested, and of others which may obviously be made, Iwould have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Thus it will be noted that in the drawings the upper edges of the rear ends of the two members do not quite come together, but leave a portion of the barrel exposed between them. This gives the arm a finished and light appearance, and detracts nothing from the serviceability of the fore-arm stock, inasmuch as in handling the.

gun that particular portion of the barrel cannot be touched by the hand. If desired, however, the edges may be brought together so as to form a close joint at this point.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fore-arm stock for firearms, comprising two members constructed and adapted to be joined in the vertical longitudinal plane of the arm, substantially as described.

2. In a firearm the combination with the frame and barrel thereof, of a fore-arm stock comprising two members divided in the vertical longitudinal plane of the arm, and adapted at their rear ends to extend upward over the rear end of the barrel, and means for holding them thereupon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS G. BENNETT.

\Vitnesses:

DANIEL II. VEADER, A. W. EARLE. 

